Electric clock



June 12, 1923.

E. FOWLER ELECTRIC CLOCK original Filed July 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 12, 1923.

E. FOWLER ELECTRIC CLOCK 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July 5 E H M Z I I H J I, a I 1. .5 Ff (L v1 5 A B J B A: I w z m z 4 I m glwuem Toi Patentcfi June 12, 19230 I it is n fit tints To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ii, ELBEEZT liownnn, citizen of the United States, and resitling Baltimore, Maryland, have invented certain new entl useful improvements in Electric Clocks, of which the following is a specificstion.

This invention relates to electricelly driven. clocks, particularly to SGCOINlSLl-CY clocks connectecl in electrical circuit with e master clock entl eflapterl to he controllecl thereby, The secondary clock clisclosecl herein is particulsrly edspteol to he used as a well clock in apartments, hotels, 'lsctories ans public buildings, in which such clocks are located in 'psrtitions end ineve two tieils, one facing in each of two adjoining room but it may also he use l in single 'isceii clocks, tower clocks, ordinsry mantel clocks, desk clocks, or clocks intentletl for special purposes The objects of this invention are to provide a clock of this class in which by novel arrangement of geering sncl electromagnetic apparatus for actuating the gearing s clock is provided which is composed of minimum number of parts, in which the parts are of extremely simple construction, encl which the use of springs encl other clelicste anti perishable elements is avoided, As a result ct my novel construction, it is pos sible to construct the niechenism enci assemble the same at less cost and with greater ease than other clocks out this character heretofore designed. or suggested. is also possible to make the clock of much smaller size than hes heretofore been found necessary, thus enabling itto be conveniently placed in a very thin wall between two rooms sncl allowing desk clocks, mantel clocks, &c., of small size to he i'zonstructe-ti It is e. -further object of the invention to provide a novel cssing of -very simple construction consisting of two similarly shaped portions edeptecl to contain the gesring and to form a dustprooli protection therefor, the two portions being held together en element of the electromagnetic apparatus, in this case by e U-shopecl electromegnet for operating the gearing, which thereby performs two functions and olovistes the use of bolts, screws, or rivets which would other wise be necessary to secure the two halves of the casing togetherv The invention will he fully disclosed in the toilet description when tslten. in connection with the accompanying firs-wings, in ew? Fig. 'i s side elevation of the clock, the isls being omitted; plan view, e portion of the cas en away and s portion of tne being indicated in clotted. line :3 w s de elevation as seen iroin the sine opposite that shown in Figure pert the casing being; broken away; I

Fig. is section on the line r-i of Figure Fig. l igure Fig: is e perspective view-oi one 'nsll of the is enlarges view of the cowl snci retcnet mechanism;

Fig, 8 is s detail of one of the A horizonteliy disposed worm A is hereineiter described as the drive worm is mounted on or integral with the hori- Zontai snei t S, the ends of which beer in sortable recesses in the elongated members U hereinafter to be clescriloecl. The worm A has e double threeri end is eclepeil to he intermittently rotated by the eiectromee' netic-sctueting sppsrstus to drive the hencls cloclz through intermecliote gearing. Meshing with the threefis of drive worm A are the teeth of three worm who A, i -i end A each hsvinc twenty our oil, encl as the worm A rotates, these three worm wheels will each rotate at one'twelfth the angular velocity of the worm The worm wheels A and ere mountedi respectively on the horizontally clisposetl minute hsncl shafts M encl M the worm wheel A is mounted on a shaft S et its central point, there being locate-i above and below the wheel A end. concentric therewitn on this shaft, toe worms B and B, the upper worm having two tlireecls with right hencl twist Ellh'l the lower worm having two threetls with leiit hens twist,

Meshing with the worms B sncl are two worm wheels E8 endi B respectively, each provided with twenty four teeth. The worm wheel 3 is mounted noon solid shaft H, to the outer encl oi which is connectecl hour of; the right hsncl clock 5; the of which is repreis section on the line 5--5 of A1 I till ill

; tive position.

sented at l), and the worm wheel 18 is mounted upon the hollow shaft H to the outer end of which is connected the hour hand H of the left hand clock (Fig. 5).

As each of worms B and B contain two teeth and worm wheels B and B contain twenty-four, these worm wheels will be rotatcd by the worms respectively at onetwelfth the speed of rotation of the latter.

The hollow shaft M and the solid shaft M upon which the worm wheels A and A? respectively are mounted, support at their outer ends the minute hands M and M of the oppositely facing clocks. The concentric shafts leading to each dial are freely rotatablerelatively to each other, and the hollow shaft turn freely in the bearings in the cas- Tllectromagnetic means is provided for intermittently rotating the drive worm This mechanism is clearly illustrated in Figures 2, 3, l and 7. Rigidly mounted on the shaft S at one end of the worm A, is a ratchet R which is rotatable in one direction only, the pawl P supported upon the pivot P attached to the casing preventing back- Ward movement of the ratchet, as seen in Figure 7, The pawl P has its lower end provided with a weight P and is not dependent on spring pressure to hold it in place. A soft iron member or armature K is secured to a sleeve K mounted upon shaft S, and freely rotatable thereon. The armature K has a projection K to which a pawl K is pivoted and as the armature is oscillated about its pivotal point, the pawl K operating; upon the ratchet R imparts a step by step motion to the shaft S and the worm A. The pawl K which is freely rotatable on its supporting pivot K extends laterally from the armature K, and has a lower weighted portion K which maintai s the pawl in opera- As clearly shown in Figures 3 and 7, the armature K is heavier on one side than on the other, and has a tendency to rotate in a counter clockwise direction. A stop T projecting laterally from the wall of the casing, as clearly shown in Figure 7, limits the movement of, the armature in both directions, the inclined face T of the stop forming an abutment limiting its movement in a counter clockwise direction and the upper face T forming an abutment limiting its movement in the opposite direction. Pole pieces G and G extend through the wallvof the casing on opposite sides of the shaft El and have curved ends terminating; in close proximity to the armature K. These pole pieces are preferably inserts into the halves of the casing which is preferably of light and if possible .of non-conducting material and have portions extending laterally which are provided with openings G and G respectively to receive the lower ends ofthe section,

lessee-a cores E'and E of the electromagnet which is provided to intermittently exclte and operate the armature K.

This electroma et is as shown, U-shaped, the cores E and being integral with the yoke portion E and the coils E and E being securely fastened to the core portions E and E respectively.

Suitable electric connections are made from a relay or master clock, not shown, to the coils E and E. When these coils are excited, the armature K immediately as sumes a horizontal position, thereby rotating the ratchet wheel It and the worm A. l/Vhen the circuit through the electromagnet is broken, the armature K immediately drops back to the position shown in Figure 3, the pawl K slipping back one tooth, and being in position upon the next movement of the armature to again rotate the ratchet wheel and the worm A.

The ratchet wheel R is provided with ten teeth and in the present arrangement is adapted to be rotated one-tenth of a revolution every thirty seconds under control of the master clock. Thus the worm wheel A will make twelve revolutions per hour, the minute hands will make one revolution per hour, and the hour hands will make onetwelth of a revolution per hour.

The casing as shown comprises two exactly similaror duplicate half portions L and L, provided with extended bearing portions L and L respectively to support shafts on which the hands are mounted, and lugs L? and L adapted to cooperate with the projections L and L in holding between them the coils E 'and E of the llshaped electromagnet. In this way the electromagnet, which is also held in place by leaf springs J and J, serves two functions, that of operating the armature K, and that of serving as a means for holding the two halves of the casing together, thus avoiding the use of other securing means, such as bolts or screws and rendering the device simpler and more convenient to disassemble for the pur 09s of inspection and re air.

. T e ends of shafts S and are, as above mentioned, mounted in members U and U respectively, which lit closely into the channels formed in the bosses V in the inside of the casing. This arrangement is provided so that the castings for the two halves of the casing may be exactly similar, and also for the purpose of providing additional means for locking the two sections against lateral movement. Dowel pinslV on each section cobperating with holes W on the opposite sections of the casing in their proper rel ative positions,

It will be apparent that the mechanism contained in the casing is of extreme simplicity, the lasing in number, small are also instrumental in holding the in size, and comprising no delicate springs or perishable elements such as are common in clocks ofthis class now on the market. The mechanism is so designed and constructed that it will operate for long periods of time without attention andthe entire structure is so designed, that by removing the ll-shaped armature, the casing can be disassembled quickly, and the parts easily inspected. In case it is necessary to replace a part, this can be done quickly and easily due to the manner in which the mechanism is supported.

Although I have described and illustrated my invention as particularly applicable to wall clocks, I do not limit myself to such use inasmuch as the invention may be conveniently used in connection with desk clocks, mantel clocks, tower clocks, and other special clocks, and the various details of construction may be modified to suit the particular use to which it is to be put. The scope of the invention will be indicated by the app nded claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electrically driven secondary clock, in combination. a drive worm, electrical means for giving said worm a rotary movement, a second worm, a worm wheel connected to said second worm and adapted to be driven by said drive worm, a worm wheel connected to the minute hand of the clock and arranged to be driven by said drive worm, and a worm wheel connected to the hour hand of the clock and arranged to be driven by said second worm.

2. In an electrically driven secondary clock, in combination, a drive worm. electrical means for giving said worm a rotary movement, a second worm, a worm wheel rigidly secured to said second worm and adapted to be driven by said first worm hour and minute hands, a worm wheel connected to the minute hand and arranged to be driven by the drive worm. and a worm wheel connected to the hour hand and arranged to be driven by the second worm.

3. In an electrically driven secondary clock, in combination, a drive worm, electrical means for giving said worm a rotary movement, a second worm. a worm wheel rigidly secured to said second worm and adapted to be driven by said first worm. hour and minute hands, concentric shafts each supporting one of said hands, a worm wheel mounted on one of said shafts and arranged to be rotated by said drive worm. and a worm wheel mounted on the other of said shafts and arranged to be driven by said second worm.

4. In an electrically driven secondary clock. in combination, a drive worm, electrical means for giving said worm a rotary movement, a second worm with its axis at right angles to the axis of the drive worm, a worm wheel secured to and having its axis coincident with the second worm, a. worm wheel connected to the minute hand of the clock and arranged to be driven by the drive worm. and a worm wheel connected to the hour hand oi the clock and arranged to be driven by said second worm. the axes of said two last mentioned worm wheels being coincident and at right angles to the axis of each of the two worms.

5. In a clock, in combination, a drive worm *neans for giving said worm a rotary movement, a. second worm, a wormv wheel connected to said second worm and adapted to be driven by said first worm. a worm wheel connected to the minute hand of the clock and arranged to be driven by said drive worm, and a worm wheel connected to the hour hand of the clock and arranged to be driven by said second worm.

6. In an electrically driven secondary clock, in combination, a horizontally disposed drive worm, electromagnetic means "for giving said worm a rotary movement, a second vertically disposed worm, a worm wheel concentric with and connected to said second worm and arranged to be driven by said drive worm, concentric shafts disposed with their axes at right angles to the axes of both of said worms and having hour and minute hands thereon, a. worm gear mounted on and secured to the minute hand shaft and meshing with the drive worm and a Worm gear mounted on and secured to the hour hand shaft and meshing with said second worm.

'Z'. In a clock having two dials, in; combination, a drive worm, means for giving said worm a rotary movement, a second worm, a worm wheel connected to said second worm and adapted to be driven by said drive worm, two sets of hour and minute hands, two sets of concentric shafts for supporting and rotating said hands. and a worm wheel on each of said shafts, the worm wheels on the minute hand shaft meshing with and being rotated by said drive worm and the worm Wheels on said hour hand shafts meshing with and being rotated by said second worm.

8. In an electrically driven secondary clock in combination, a drive worm, electrical means for giving said worm an intermittently rotary movement, a second worm, worm wheels intermeshing with said drive worm and adapted to be driven thereby, one of said worm wheels being secured to and adapted to drive the second worm. and a second worm wheel being directly connected to the minute hand of a clock, and a worm wheel connected to the hour hand of a clock and arranged to be driven by said second worm.

9. In an electrically driven secondary clock, in combination. a drive worm, means for rotating said worm, a second worm,

10 e second Worm, means conneotmg means connecting seid Worms whereby second Worm is rotated simuita' ousiy Wif the first Worm, meens connect to one of the hands oi 'Lhe clock and er ang ed be driven by first Worm and means connected to the other hand of the clock arranged to be driven by said second W 10. 1 11 a secondary clock, in combination, drive WOE7127 means for rotating; eeid woznw Worms whereby the second Worm is mooted simu'ita neousiy with fine first Worm, a worm whee} conneotec? to the minute hand of the clock and arranged to be driven by one of seici Worms, and a Worm Wheel oonneoied to a'zhe hour hand of clock and arranged to be driven by the other Worm, for the purpose set foeth.

oesfiimony whereof 1E my signature FUW 

